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Do not transfer money or buy an investment until you have checked two separate things: the person or firm offering advice, and the recommendation itself. Confirm the professional’s registration, experience, disciplinary record, credentials, services, conflicts and total compensation. Then test the investment against your goals, time horizon, ability to absorb losses, liquidity needs and understanding. If the adviser will not provide documents, gives vague cost answers, applies urgency or promises high returns with little or no risk, pause.
This process is written primarily for U.S. investment advice and securities professionals. Elsewhere, use your own regulator’s registers, disclosure documents and complaint channels; registration categories and investor protections differ by jurisdiction.
1. Define exactly what you need
“Financial advice” can mean a one-time financial plan, ongoing portfolio management, retirement-income planning, a second opinion, or a recommendation to buy a particular security. Write down the job before interviewing anyone. A precise brief makes it easier to compare proposals that may otherwise look similar.
Write a short scope statement
- The decision you need help with, such as investing a lump sum, creating retirement income or choosing an allocation.
- The services you expect: written plan, implementation, trading, tax-coordination, insurance analysis, monitoring or periodic reviews.
- What is outside scope, such as legal or tax advice the professional is not qualified to provide.
- How much account discretion you are willing to grant, if any.
- How often you expect meetings, reports and portfolio reviews.
Ask each candidate to describe deliverables, service cadence, investment discretion, product limitations and experience with people in circumstances like yours. SEC guidance notes that services and fees depend on the agreement negotiated with the professional, so align the written scope before comparing price. The SEC’s question list includes asking, “What experience do you have, especially with people like me?” (SEC Investor Bulletin, 2019).
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2. Verify the person and the firm independently
Never rely on a business card, social-media profile or a title as proof that someone may provide the service legally. Search both the individual and the firm before discussing an investment in detail.
Use official lookup services
| Check | What it can show | How to use the result |
|---|---|---|
| Investor.gov Investment Professional search | Registration, licensing and available disciplinary or other history | Confirm the person and firm match the names, locations and capacities presented to you. |
| FINRA BrokerCheck | Broker and brokerage-firm registration information, employment history and reported disclosures | Search the individual and the firm at brokercheck.finra.org; save the report for your records. |
| State securities regulator | State-level registration and enforcement information where applicable | Use the regulator for the state in which the professional operates or where you are receiving the service. |
Investor.gov’s Investment Advisers page explains the adviser search process. FINRA’s free BrokerCheck is a separate source for brokers and brokerage firms. A clean search is not a guarantee of future conduct; it only tells you what the available record reports.
Read adverse information in context
Look at complaints, customer disputes, regulatory actions, bankruptcies, terminations and other disclosures. Record the date, allegation, outcome and whether the matter involved the person, the firm or both. Ask the professional to explain every item and how it was resolved. Evasive answers, attempts to minimize a material event or a mismatch between the explanation and the record are reasons to stop.
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3. Confirm the role, registration and credentials
People who call themselves “financial advisers,” “wealth managers,” “retirement advisers” or “financial planners” may operate under different legal and business models. A title alone does not establish a qualification or the regulatory duties that apply to the advice you are being offered.
Ask directly, “Are you registered with the SEC, a state securities regulator, or FINRA?” Then ask which entity is registered, what services that registration covers and in which capacity the person will act for your account. Registration requirements and regulatory frameworks can change, so verify current status with the relevant regulator rather than relying on a verbal description.
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Verify designations with the issuer
If a person claims a professional designation, contact the organization that issued it. Confirm that the designation is current, what education and examination it requires, the standards of conduct attached to it and whether the organization has a disciplinary process. The SEC’s background guidance on adviser selection is available at “Investment Advisers: What You Need to Know Before Choosing One”. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also explains questions to ask about an adviser’s qualifications in “Know your financial adviser”.
Do not infer that a credential guarantees good advice, low costs or a fiduciary relationship. Treat it as one verification point alongside registration, experience, disclosures and compensation.
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4. Obtain and compare the documents
Ask for documents before signing or sending money. For an investment adviser, request the latest Form ADV, including Part 2A (the brochure) and Part 2B (the brochure supplement for the relevant personnel). Also request the relationship summary and proposed advisory agreement.
What the documents are for
- Form ADV Part 1: business information and regulatory or client-history information reported to the SEC or a state regulator.
- Form ADV Part 2: services, fees, investment strategies, conflicts, disciplinary information and other narrative disclosures.
- Brochure supplement: background and conduct information about the individuals providing advice.
- Relationship summary: a concise description of services, legal standards, fees, conflicts and questions to ask.
- Service agreement: the negotiated scope, authority, termination terms, billing method and other contractual details.
Compare the paperwork with the sales conversation. If a representative says advice is “independent” but the documents disclose a limited product shelf, proprietary products or sales incentives, ask what that restriction means for your choices. Ask whether the firm receives payments for retaining assets, directing trades, selling affiliated products or recommending a particular investment.
The SEC states on its Investor.gov adviser page: “Investment advisers are required to act in your best interest and not put their interest ahead of yours.” The same guidance warns that the way advisers make money can create conflicts. Consider that statement together with the written disclosures and the exact capacity in which advice is delivered; do not use the word “fiduciary” as a substitute for reading the agreement.
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5. Put every cost into dollars
Request a written estimate of the total cost for your circumstances, not just a headline percentage or a statement that a service is “free.” Ask who receives each payment, when it is charged, where it appears on your statement and whether another company pays the adviser or firm.
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| Cost category | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Advice fee | Is it hourly, a fixed project fee, a retainer or a percentage of assets? What work and review frequency does it include? |
| Transaction compensation | Are there commissions, markups, mark-downs, loads or trading charges when you buy or sell? |
| Product expenses | What fund, insurance, structured-product or other operating expenses reduce returns? |
| Account charges | Are there custody, platform, statement, transfer, termination or minimum-balance fees? |
| Third-party payments | Does a product sponsor, platform or affiliated company pay the adviser or firm? |
If a fee is quoted as a percentage, multiply it by the actual amount you may invest. For example, a 1% annual asset-based fee on $80,000 is $800 per year before any product or transaction costs; the professional should confirm how the fee is calculated, billed and adjusted as the balance changes. Compare fees only after comparing what each arrangement delivers. No single compensation method is automatically best: hourly, fixed, asset-based, commission and mixed models each create different incentives and provide different services.
The CFPB’s guide to selecting a financial professional discusses fee structures and questions to ask; see Choosing a financial professional. SEC investor guidance is also summarized in “Roadmap: Picking a Financial Pro.”
6. Test whether the recommendation fits you
A recommendation cannot be evaluated in isolation from your circumstances. Before recommending an investment, the professional should understand your goals, income, assets, debts, tax situation, dependents, time horizon, liquidity needs and ability to withstand a loss.
Questions the adviser should be able to answer
- What goal is this investment intended to serve?
- What does it own or do, in plain language?
- How can it make money, and what events could make it lose money?
- What is the worst plausible loss, and could I lose more than I invest?
- What fees, spreads, penalties and ongoing expenses apply?
- When can I sell or withdraw, and what restrictions, gates or surrender charges apply?
- How does the recommendation fit my time horizon, tax position and capacity for loss?
- What reasonable alternatives did you consider, and why was this one selected?
Separate risk tolerance (how much volatility you can emotionally endure) from risk capacity (how much loss your finances can absorb). A person may be comfortable with market swings but unable to replace money needed for rent, tuition or a near-term purchase.
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Read the primary disclosure
For a mutual fund, exchange-traded product, variable annuity, bond offering or other security, read the prospectus or offering disclosure. Check the issuer and offering information in the SEC’s EDGAR database when available. Ask for definitions of unfamiliar terms, including leverage, margin, lockups, subordinated claims and contingent fees.
Investor.gov’s guide says, “Never invest in something you don’t understand.” If you cannot explain the investment’s purpose, sources of return, main risks, liquidity and total cost in your own words, wait. A professional should welcome questions and give you time to review documents.
7. Investigate risk, liquidity and leverage
Every investment carries risk, including the possibility of losing principal. Treat a pitch promising unusually high returns with little or no risk as a major reason to stop and verify. The SEC warns that many investment frauds use precisely that combination of promises; it is not, by itself, proof that a particular offer is fraudulent, but it demands independent checking.
Ask about the loss scenario
- Could the value fall sharply or become zero?
- Could inflation, interest-rate changes, currency movements or a borrower’s default reduce the outcome?
- Is the stated return a target, projection, historical figure or contractual payment?
- Are returns shown before or after all fees, taxes and expenses?
- What happens if you need cash earlier than planned?
Margin and other borrowing arrangements deserve special care. The SEC’s roadmap warns that margin can create repayment demands and forced sales. Treat that as a product-specific risk of borrowing against investments, not as a feature of ordinary cash investing. Ask whether leverage is involved directly or indirectly and whether losses can exceed your initial cash.
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Use the same questions and documents for every candidate. A simple scorecard prevents a polished presentation from outweighing basic verification.
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| Comparison axis | Evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Service scope | Deliverables, review schedule, implementation and termination terms |
| Comparable experience | Types of clients served and relevant planning situations |
| Status and credentials | Regulator, registration capacity, license status and verified designations |
| History | Complaints, disciplinary events, outcomes and the adviser’s explanation |
| Product range | Available products, proprietary offerings and restrictions |
| Total cost | Advice, transaction, product, account and third-party charges in dollars |
| Conflicts | Sales incentives, revenue sharing, retention payments and affiliated products |
| Control | Discretionary authority, custody arrangements and approval requirements |
| Communication | Contact method, reporting, monitoring and response expectations |
Score the proposed investment separately on goal fit, risk of loss, liquidity, complexity, fees and your ability to explain it. An adviser can be legitimate while a particular recommendation is unsuitable for you.
9. Recognize when to pause
Stop the process and request more information when any of these conditions appears:
- The person or firm cannot be found in the relevant regulator’s records.
- The recommendation arrives before anyone asks about your finances and objectives.
- Fees, commissions, incentives or product limitations remain vague after you ask.
- You are pushed to act immediately, keep the opportunity secret or skip independent review.
- The explanation depends on jargon, testimonials or projected returns rather than documents.
- The promoter will not identify the issuer, provide a prospectus or explain how money is made.
- You are promised high returns with little or no risk.
- You cannot describe how and when you could get your money back.
What to do next
- Do not sign, transfer funds or provide account credentials while material questions remain unanswered.
- Request the registration record, disclosures, agreement, prospectus and complete fee schedule in writing.
- Verify the seller and investment separately; a real registration does not validate every product offered.
- Ask a qualified, independent professional to explain any complex feature without relying on the promoter’s materials.
- For U.S. securities concerns, contact the SEC, FINRA or your state securities regulator. Outside the United States, use the appropriate local regulator and complaint channel.
10. Keep an evidence file
Save search reports, Form ADV versions, brochures, agreements, prospectuses, fee estimates, account statements and your written questions and answers. Note the date of each conversation and who made each representation. This record helps you compare changing disclosures and gives a regulator or attorney useful facts if a dispute develops.
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Questions to ask before you hire anyone
- What experience do you have, especially with people like me?
- Are you registered with the SEC, a state securities regulator, or FINRA?
- What services will you provide, how often will we meet, and who will monitor my account?
- How do you get paid?
- What are the fees that I will pay for products and services?
- Do you or your firm receive compensation from product providers or affiliates?
- Are you limited to particular products or a proprietary product shelf?
- Will you have discretion over my account or custody of my assets?
- What are the principal risks, liquidity limits and worst-case loss of this recommendation?
- Which documents should I read before deciding, and how long may I take to review them?
The Bottom Line
Verify the adviser, read the disclosures, calculate the complete cost, and test the investment against your goals and ability to absorb loss. If you cannot independently confirm who is advising you, what they are paid, or how the investment can fail, keep your money out until those answers are clear.
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